Is low carb compatible with bf and family life in general?

[AyeWhySWIM]

I need to lose quite a bit of weight but am still ebf 4mo ds2. I'm interested in eating a lower carb diet to achieve this but not sure if it's compatible with breastfeeding - does anyone have any experience/advice?

How much would I need to reduce carbs to have an effect - obviously in combination with calorie counting and making healthy choices?

Can anyone signpost me to any meal plans as I find it hard to see how to do this whilst catering for the rest of the family ie don't have much time to prepare everything from scratch, am often out and about and need to please a fussy toddler too!

Thanks on advance.

[Custardo]

I think the medical advice is that you shouldn't breastfeed and LC

you shouldn't LC and calorie count - the two are not compatible and are different forms of measurement

re: prep from scratch: you should make batches and freeze at weekends ( for anything really) this is the only way to get something to eat quick, which isn't pre-packaged shite

[AyeWhySWIM]

I guess I'd better go to plan B (MFP) while bf then! Thanks

[HolgerDanske]

There are people who are happily bf'ing and low-carbing but that's up to the individual.

Low carbing is very compatible with family life. It's easy and doesn't involve any complex prep or planning.

[OrangeMochaFrappucino]

I found it tricky for family life because it meant making two alternatives a lot of the time dh and ds wanted carbs eg potatoes and so it meant a bit of extra work. Also being very organised with meal planning and budgeting. The main spoke in the wheel I found was that it seemed impossible to eat at other people's houses or to eat out - I found it really restrictive, though I know lots of people don't. I didn't realise it wasn't compatible with bfing though and had planned to do it once dc2 arrives in April. Anyone know why it's not recommended?

I know I have listed negative things about LC but I did think it's a great way to eat, I just struggled with the logistics a bit!

[lottieandmia]

Can anyone tell me, is it true that low carb diets make your breath smell awful?

[HolgerDanske]

It doesn't affect your breath if you're drinking enough liquids and eating enough veg - some people have too much protein because they're not considering overall balance.

It takes a while to get used to planning to have the bits and bobs handy that you need in order to have good alternatives to carbs, but once you're in the habit it really doesn't take much effort at all. When I cook my family's meals I have the same protein and just cook an alternative to the carbs. So for pasta and meatballs I will have courgette fried with garlic and olive oil. It cooks at the same time as the pasta and is no hardship to make. If we're having chilli I will have it with a salad as my main side instead of tortilla chips or wedges. With curry I will have cauliflower or spinach. And so on and so forth

Eating out can be problematic I guess but I've managed to negotiate it quite well so far.

Eating at others' homes, well I don't do that so much. But I think that really the main issue with that would be having to constantly explain the very good arguments for the low carb WOL to people who are misguided about the scientific basis for it. Thankfully i am able to say that I am doing it for a medical reason and have the full backing of my GP, so people tend to just accept it.

[FancySpaceGloves]

I breast fed while eating a low carb ish diet. I was fine, DC were fine, I BF each DC for a year. They now have good eating habits.

Everyone eats the same meal, it's just that I mostly don't eat the potatoes/chips/rice.

Our main meals tend to be meat and two veg, casseroles, curry, grills, kebabs, stir fry, sausage/fish fingers and mash.

If they have sandwiches at lunch, I have a salad made of identical ingredients. We rarely eat pasta.

Personally, I find the Primal diet easier to follow than Atkins. See www.marksdailyapple.com

Do not calorie count AND low carb! Do one or the other. You will lose weight.

[HolgerDanske]

Mind you I think I did have a bit of a weird taste in my mouth for about a week at the beginning. My guess is that it's a by-product of the process your body goes through in adapting.

[HolgerDanske]

Oh yes, I didn't explain very well on the sides for my meals - generally I just have extra of whatever everyone else is having, so it's not as if I have to cook a whole extra vegetable dish just for me..

Once in a great while I will have something different but that's usually just if I particularly fancy it.

[lottieandmia]

I have always eaten low fat diets. But lately I feel exhausted all the time and low carb diets look much healthier to me. But from what I've read you apparently need to eat nitrate free bacon and ham? Do supermarkets sell this? Sorry for hijack OP...

[FancySpaceGloves]

I can't be arsed looking for nitrate free stuff or grain fed beef or organic everything. Probably couldn't afford it even if I did look for it.

Low carb gives plenty of benefits even if you ignore all that other stuff.

[FancySpaceGloves]

I think my breath is OK. Will breathe heavily on DH later and demand a verdict. Actually, DS1 will probably be more honest. Off to ask...

... I smell of coffee and mummy apparently.

[lottieandmia]

Yes, as described you apparently need to drink lots of water to avoid bad breath. I think I'm going to try this - it will also be an excuse for me to give up wine.

[HolgerDanske]

It is perfectly possible to bf and low carb, it's just difficult for a lot of people to have the courage of their convictions until they properly understand the underlying principles and how to do it well.

The NHS doesn't yet prescribe low carb high fat as a viable way of eating but I am hopeful that in time it will. It takes a long time to make changes to health and lifestyle conventions.

There are lots of good explanations of the science behind it in the low carb boot camp section, and a few breast feeding mothers who might be able to share some insights. There's also a great recipe thread.